Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

F R A N C I N E R I V E R S
you more than anything or anyone in the whole wide world.”
Except for him, Sarah thought. Except for Alex Stafford. What if he came
back? What if he made Mama choose? What would Mama do then?
Afraid, Sarah clung to her mother and prayed he would stay away.
A young man came to see Mama.
Sarah watched her mother speak with him while Sarah played with her
doll near the fireplace. The only people who came to this cottage were
Mister Pennyrod, who brought firewood, and Bob. Bob liked Cleo. He
worked at the market and teased Cleo about rump roasts and juicy legs o’
lamb. Cleo laughed at him, but Sarah didn’t think he was very funny. He
wore a soiled white apron covered with blood.
The young man gave Mama a letter, but she didn’t open it. She served
him tea, and he said thank you. He didn’t say very much after that, except to
talk about the weather and how pretty Mama’s flower garden was. He said it
was a long ride from the city. Mama gave him biscuits and forgot all about
Sarah.
She knew something was wrong. Mama sat too straight and she spoke
very softly. “She’s a pretty little girl,” the man said and smiled at her. Sarah
looked down again, embarrassed, afraid Mama would send her from the
room because he had noticed her.
“Yes, she is. Thank you.”
“She looks like you. Pretty as a sunrise.”
Mama smiled at her. “Sarah, why don’t you go outside and cut some
flowers for the table.”
Sarah took her doll and went out without a word of argument. She wanted
to please Mama. She took a sharp knife from the kitchen drawer and went
out to the flower garden. Mama loved roses best. Sarah added spikes of larkspur,
red stock, ranunculus, marguerites, and daisies until the straw basket
on her arm was full.
When she came back inside, the young man was gone. The letter was
open in Mama’s lap. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks full of lively color.
She smiled as she folded the letter and tucked it into her sleeve. She stood
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